GSP Announces Retirement, Gets Challenged By Khabib

On Thursday, one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time will announce his retirement, as Georges St-Pierre will walk away from the sport.

Per a report from ESPN via RDS in Quebec, St-Pierre will hold a press conference on Thursday in Montreal, where he will announce his retirement.

GSP, a former welterweight and middleweight champion, had hoped for one more fight against currently suspended lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, who called out St-Pierre following a report that he was retiring.

 

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Let’s do it in November. After this fight you can retire. I grow up on your fights, and have nothing but respect for you, and I believe showed that to you George when you were in Moscow. But, it would be honor for me to share Octagon with one of the greatest fighters of all time. Let’s do it 155 lbs, or I give away 5lbs to you, cause you newer done 155. Well, it’s your choice 155 or 160, Montreal, NYC, Moscow or Abu Dhabi. Send me location my Friend 📍 #GSPvsKHABIB #ufc #mma #history #RUSSIAvsCANADA

A post shared by Khabib Nurmagomedov (@khabib_nurmagomedov) on Feb 20, 2019 at 9:31am PST

“I saw what Khabib wrote, and I appreciate it very much,” St-Pierre told ESPN. “Unfortunately, these decisions aren’t up to us. I will address everything at the press conference tomorrow.”

With his retirement, St-Pierre will mark the end of a career that began in 2002. Four years into his career he would win the welterweight title at UFC 65, holding it until 2007 with a loss to Matt Serra, regaining it in 2008 at UFC 83.

St-Pierre initially walked away from fighting with a split-decision win over Johny Hendricks in November 2013, but would return in 2017 for one final fight and a win over Michael Bisping to become middleweight champion at UFC 217 in November 2017.